Just what I expected

As Good As It Gets

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Zombies are big on entertainment value. To be honest, it would be pretty difficult to make a zombie film that isn't entertaining. The subject is just so visual, so visceral, that it embodies the cinematic medium perfectly. So there aren't - or should I say weren't - many crappy zombie films in the history of cinema, and even those that are poor – like Bruno Mattei's efforts – still have an intrinsic entertainment value to them. Conversely, the genre holds lots of classics, and the excellent 1985 film RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD opened the floodgates for zombie-comedy hybrids.This is one of those films. Although it bears superficial similarities to the Dan O'Bannon movie (especially the reanimated creatures), this is closer in plot to the 1950s thriller classic, D. O. A., which was about a detective who took a slow-acting poison and then had a certain number of hours to solve his own murder before it killed him. Personally, I think that's one of the best plots ever, and DEAD HEAT goes for the obvious and takes it one further: a zombie cop has to solve his own murder before he rots away to nothingness.On the face of it, this is an extremely cheesy '80s movie, full of big hair, well-muscled guys and more comic one-liners than you can shake a stick at. All of these come courtesy of Saturday NIGHT LIVE comedian Joe Piscopo, here playing a tough, humorous partner to Treat Williams' more stoic police officer. Piscopo reminded me a little of Roddy McDowall in THEY LIVE: he embodies his larger-than-life character and shines at every opportunity. It helps that the script is also genuinely funny. Williams takes the lion's share of acting duties, and manages to humanise what could have been a lifeless (no pun intended) creation.The plot is action-focused throughout and there are plenty of set-pieces, from the arresting bank robbery opening to the OTT climax. Along the way there are multiple encounters with zombie henchmen and the spectacle of Williams actively rotting before our eyes as the storyline progresses. There are problems, too, like gaping plot holes and continuity issues, but these can be easily overlooked because the main thing is that the film's a great deal of fun. It flies past, funny and quirky, and never stops being enjoyable. As an added bonus, three old-timers join the cast list. These are Keye Luke, an Oriental presence in Hollywood since the 1930s and playing a villain for once; Darren McGavin (otherwise known as Kolchak) as a shady senior doctor and, last and best of all, Vincent Price as a mad scientist. This is one of Price's last movies and he certainly looks fragile, but he invests his dialogue with plenty of his usual aplomb.In the end, DEAD HEAT is all about the special effects. These range from bloody squib hits to zombie make-up, but there are a couple of stand-out set pieces that take this beyond the norm for '80s conventions. An intervention in a slaughterhouse full of the living dead becomes an incredible gross-out laugh riot as our heroes are attacked by joints of beef, severed duck heads and slaughtered chicken carcasses (the highlight is when Williams finds himself the victim...of a sentient liver!). Later, a supporting character has a surprise reveal and ends up literally rotting away to nothing courtesy of some very gross FX work. These moments are as insanely entertaining as the likes of RE-ANIMATOR and SOCIETY and so deserve special mention. They serve to add to the film's appeal no end, making DEAD HEAT a minor classic of the genre and a film that's endlessly rewatchable.

Being dead is one of those physical limitations where it stops individuals right in their tracks. It also becomes frustrating to give explanations to how it can be reversed. This movie isn't the first one to focus on dead characters but it's intriguing to watch it. As stated in my summary, this film plays out like an early version of what R.I.P.D. (2013) could've been - its plot runs parallel to it. And if you account for the other elements such as the deformed dead villains reeking havoc and it's up to two cops to take them down. It's hard not to see the similarities. The sad thing is, this movie could've been just as good as R.I.P.D. (2013) if they had developed the writing more. It was mighty close though because it has an abundance of good points.Again the story focuses on two smart-aleck cops, Roger (Treat Williams) & Doug (Joe Piscopo) who end up fighting the weird side of crime. The problems are ushered in by thugs that just don't seem to die. Even worse is that every time they come back, they look more grotesque than before. Here, Treat Williams and Joe Piscopo demonstrate comical chemistry and how to have fun with such a ridiculous concept. Although Piscopo essentially is the definition of the 1980s with his sense of style and the way he spouts out cheesy comments, he's still a strong highlight. Meanwhile, Treat Williams plays opposite of that; cool, calm and collected. That is until later on in the film where he goes rather bonkers, which is also comical. The background to their characters' history isn't gone into with depth but it's a change to see two wisecracking cops getting along even with their odd differences from the beginning. Instead of going the usual route of having them bash heads before they come to a resolution.To most, the rest of the cast isn't much worth to remember but there are some attractive and recognizable faces. Actresses Lindsay Frost and Clare Kirkconnell play cute women, both of which demonstrate decent acting. Then there's a brief scene with Robert Picardo being the Lieutenant of the Police (with a mustache). The veteran actors that older viewers should recognize are Keye Luke as a Chinese restaurant owner, Darren McGavin as a head doctor and the famous late Vincent Price who plays an important plot point in the movie. All of which these actors have scenes that are enjoyable to watch. Surprisingly, all these scenes were constructed by first time writer Terry Black, who didn't do too badly of a job. Though there are some parts though that don't work.Unfortunately, even though Black's scripts for the main characters were comical, the logic behind various pieces to the film's structure are left unexplained. For example, how is that once someone dies, they were able to figure out they had 12 hours to live after reanimation? Also, some other characters' backgrounds after they were reanimated seemed longer than 12 hours. If so, how is it that they lived longer? Speaking of which, there was a subplot involving the possibility of extending the reanimation process, but is quickly shot down. Strangely enough, a character ends up extending his reanimation time and it's never explained how it would help resolve the main characters' problem. Which leads to the scripts final issue - neglect for its characters.I've never seen a script so wonderfully build up its main characters' personalities through the first two thirds of its running time and then completely neglect them by the final third. By neglect, I mean total disregard to giving a sense of resolution to the issues at hand or what has already happened. That's not to say the ending isn't comical, action packed or even ends on a good note. It just seems to forget what the whole purpose of the story was and therefore finish without a complete sense of closure. Then again, maybe it wasn't intended on having one but it felt like there could've been. The only other complaint viewers may have is with Ernest Troost's style of film music. I say this for two reasons. The first is that, it does appropriately represent the scenes that are portrayed on screen, but they sound like that of William Loose's music from Night of the Living Dead (1968). It sounds old with a tad of 80s synth but not a lot. The second reason why viewers may be disappointed with Troost's music is if you watch the trailer to this movie. The music there sounds way more fun, memorable and somewhat more appropriate to the tone of the film. I only wished he used that theme. However, there are a couple more good things that haven't been mentioned yet. The film is directed by Mark Goldblatt, also known for directing his forgotten only other film a year later, The Punisher (1989). Although his skill is more in editing, the direction is competently done. The other component that is done with expertise is by make-up effects designer/creator Steve Johnson's work. The gore and practical effects that are mixed in with these premature R.I.P.D. (2013) "deado" creatures looks fantastic. The look of them are not something you see everyday. In total, its still filled with cheese and plot holes but its mighty tasty.Its weak points are in its writing and music, but they aren't strong enough to overpower the whole film. Thankfully, this buddy cop horror movie has enough charm, gore and unique practical effects to be a delight anyway.

From the editor of "The Terminator" and the brother of the creator of "Lethal Weapon" comes a cinematic experience you don't see every day…a buddy cop action comedy, but with mutated zombies. Whether you think a film that mashes two completely different genres couldn't be ridiculous, then you're guess is as good as mine.Vicious crooks that can't die are murdering innocent Los Angelinos, and wisecracking, trigger-happy LAPD detectives Mortis and Bigelow are the only pair qualified for the case. After Mortis is unexpectedly killed, Bigelow soon learns about a pharmaceutical company's 'resurrection machine' that turns his partner into the living dead. Now that the plot description is taking care of, let's talk about the eclectic cast that made "Dead Heat" watchable to begin with.Already established as a serious actor, Treat Williams is certainly a treat (sorry for the pun) as the undead cop Roger Mortis. Delivering his dialog with such deadpan wittiness, Treat becomes cooler even when he survives multiple gunshot wounds and a deadly ambulance crash. Playing Mortis' muscle-bound partner Doug Bigelow is not a stretch for current MIA Joe Piscopo. Whenever his cracks succeed "We have something on the monitor, Captain," others fail "You ought a write fortune cookies, pal." Lindsay Frost (known for "The Ring") is appealingly striking as the soon-to-be ill-fated love interest Randi James. While Darren McGavin and Keye Luke excel fine as the two villains, horror legend Vincent Price makes a stand-out appearance as the inventor. His performance was brief, but graceful just as Price was nearing the end of his long career.Only in the tubular decade known as the 80's can muster up something ridiculous, yet interesting as a film called "Dead Heat."

I saw the first monster and I thought my TV was out of focus. He had like three noses, and a mouth that stretched all across his face. This ain't your daddy's buddy cop flick.But nothing prepared me for the butcher shop. That was a riot! And two zombies with machine guns trying to kill each other was a hoot! Treat Williams and Joe Piscopo were great as the buddy cops.The show even had Vincent Price. Darren McGavin was excellent as the bad guy who was resurrecting zombies to do his bidding.A funny zombie cop movie that was well worth the time, even though it could have used some gratuitous nudity.